Headwear



, Feb. 19, 1952 F. SCHLESINGER HEADWEAR 3 Shgets-Sheet 1 Filed June 8, 1948 JNVENTOR.

FRANK SC'HLESINGER A TTORNE Y Feb. 19, 1952 F. SCHLESINGER 2,586,181

HEADWEAR Filed 'Jtlne 8, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fla, INVENTOR. '7 1 FRANK SCI-IL'ESINGER FIGJS I I ATTORNEY V F. SCHLESINGER 2586181 HEADWEAR Filed June a, 1948 s Sheets-Sheet 5 FIG. I8

' INVENTOR. FRANK .S'C'HLESINGER ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 19, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Frank Schlesinger, New York, N. Y.

Application June 8, 1948, Serial No. 31,667

The present invention relates to headwear, and more particularly, to means for adjusting the size of head coverings such as hats, caps and the like.

An object of the invention is to provide a device insertable into a hat, cap or the like for fitting the same to the head of a wearer.

Another object of the invention is to provide a head covering which may be conveniently ad- J'usted to a variety of sizes and shapes and will retain the size and shape to which it has thus been adjusted.

A further object of the'invention is to provide a detachable insert for hats combining means for varying the size of the hat with means for keeping the crown of the hat in shape. f

Still another object of the invention is to provide, in a hat, an insert of the character described which will also prevent the penetration of perspiration to the exterior of the hat as well as the penetration of rain water to the head of the wearer.

Yet a further object of the invention is to provide a head covering which will be adjustable to size while being placed on the head of the wearer.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an adjusting device for head coverings which will automatically indicate the conventional head size to which the covering is being adjusted.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide, in an adjusting device of the character referred to, means for preventin the appearance of unsightly and uncomfortable wrinkles in the adjusting device.

g 4 Claims. (Cl. 2183) A yet further object of the invention is to proof the device, taken on line 2--2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary longitudinal cross section of the device, taken on line 3--3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a top plan view and Fig. 5 a front elevation of an element of the device shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a top plan view of a modification of the device of Fig. 1, showing the device with the outer sheathing removed;

Fig. 7 is a cross section through the complete device, taken on line 1-1 of Fig. 6; z

Fig. 8 is a longitudinal section of a further modification of a device according totheiinvem tion;

Fig. 9 is a top plan view taken on the line 9-9 of Fig.8; v i

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary perspective view, similar to Fig. 2, of the device shown in Figs. 8 and 9';

Fig. 11 illustrates, in perspective, an insert for a hat incorporating a device according to the invention;

Fig. 12 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of a hat provided withthe insert of Fig. 11;

Fig. 13 is a view of a hat 'similar 'to'Fig. 12-, showin the application thereto or adevice ac cording to the invention for adjustment of size when the hat is oil the 'wearers head;

Fig. 14 is a side elevationalview of ahatwith a device according to the invention soa's to permit adjustment of size whenthe hat ison the wearer's head;

Fig. 15 is a bottom vieyi of a cap'provided with an adjusting device-accordin to the invention; Fig. 16 is a cross section taken on the line Fig. 1'? is a' front view of the cap shown in Figs. 15 and'lfij Fig. 18 is'a side elevational view of a modification of the insert shown in Fig. 11;

Fig. 19 is a cross sectional side elevation showing a further modified'insert; and

- Fig. 20 is a top plan view of the insert shown inFig. 19- g Referring first to Figs. 1 and 2, there is shown an adjusting device according to the invention comprising inner and outer walls 2!, 22,2; "strap 23 inserted between these walls, two strips of fal'n'ie 24, 25 forming a pair or tubular hems at the top and bottom respectively, and a' preferably flexible wire 25 inserted as a stiifener in the up per tubulanhern 24. The u fil 22a; rererably made ofpliable plasticsheet material, such as cellophane or other suitable plastic material. Strap 23 may be of leather or other substantially, non-stretchable material...

The lower stripof fabric 25 may be stitched to the walls 2|, 22 as indicated at 21', 28. The upper strip 24 may be similarly secured to the walls by stitching 29, 3 0 and may also be-provided with a seam 3| to form a seat for the wire 26.

As illustrated in Fig. 3, the wire 26 is provided with a short sleeve 32 (shown partly in section) which engages the twoiendsiof; the wirewhereby the relative spacing {0111111086 ends may be varied. The sleeve 32 is formed with spaced portions 33 I of reduced section adapted to engage notches provided in the wire 26, as shown at 34 for the left-hand end of the wire. By virtue of the resiliency of the sleeve 32, the wire ends will be securable in discrete positions, preferably corresponding to the markings provided on the strap 23. These markings as best shown at 35, Fig. 5, represent the conventional head sizes such as 7%, 7% etc., and are provided on one of the ends of the strap 23 which passes through a buckle or other suitable fastener 36, the buckle also serving as an indicator cooperating with the markings 35. The unmarked end of the strap 23 also passes through to the buckle 36 and is secured to the marked end, e. g. as shown in Fig. 4, by means of stitching 23a.

In use, the device shown in Figs. 1-5 is adjusted to the desired head size by first releasing the strap 23 sufiiciently to exceed said size and at the same time extending the wire 26, whereupon the strap or sizer 23 is pulled up and secured at the correct marking which will also contract the ends of the wire until the desired spacing is obtained. The projecting end of the sizer 23 is then inserted into the loop 31 (Fig. 1), which may be of any suitable material, and the device 20 may now be inserted between the sweatband and the crown of a hat, cap or the like. Note that a pad 38, preferably of felt, is provided to act as a cushion against pressure fromthe buckle 35.

The provision of an open wire 26, in combination with a sleeve or retaining member 32, lends stability yet also flexibility to the adjusting device of the invention. The wire and the sleeve are preferably of galvanized steel so as to be rust-proof, and they are furthermore separated from the felt and the sweatband of the hat by the plastic walls 2|, 22. Although one wire may be suflicient in many instances, a pair of wires disposed, respectively, at the bottom and at the top of the device may also be provided.- This is illustrated in the modification of Figs. 6 and 7 where the wires are shown at 26a and 26b.

A feature of this adjusting device is that it may be inserted in the headwear without requiring securement thereto, as by stitching, since the flexible wire stiffener holds the device firmly against the crown and sweatband of the head covering.

It is apparent that this adjusting device is applicable for determining the head size of a customer who does not known his exact head size. For this purpose, the device is merely placed on the head of the prospective customer, prior to his trying on hats, and adjusted to the right size.

Thus, it develops into a sanitary device for the general public, particularly since numerous hats do not have to be tried on the customer before the one of proper size is found.

A further feature of the adjusting device .re-

sides in the fact that on account of its flexibility and adjustability, it conforms and adapts itself to any shape of head.

As shown in Fig. 7, the plastic sheathing consists here of a single strip 39 which is bent over at 40 to form the two side walls 2|, 22. Between these walls and the sizer 23 are inserted the loose felt strips 4|, 42 having spaced-apart ends as indicated at 43 '(Fig. 6), these "Strips serving as fiatteners to prevent or minimize the appearance of wrinkles in the plastic walls 2|, 22 which, in the absence of such kind of fiatteners, might spring up as the result of non-uniform contraction. It has been found that the "provision of the relatively heavy strips 4|, 42 serves to distribute the creases in the plastic member 39 substantially uniformly over the circumferences of the device 20.

In Figs. 8, 9 and 10 a different form of flattener is shown. The folded over plastic member 39 is here provided with two slots 44, 45 through which pass the ends of a single strip of fiattener 46 positioned adjacent the sizer 23. These ends 46a, 461) are provided with a pair of loops 41, 48, respectively, end 46a sliding in the loop 48 and end 46b sliding in the loop 41. In operation, the sizer 23 is adjusted as before whereupon the ends 46a, 46b of the fiattener are grasped with the fingers and gently pulled apart to smooth the surface of the sheath 39.

Referring to Figures 11 and 12, there is shown an insert 49 for a hat 50 having a crown 5|, a brim 52 and a sweatband 53. The insert 49 comprises an adjuster 20 which may be of any of the forms described in connection with Figs. 1 through 10, a shaper consisting of front plate '54 and rear plate 55, and a cover 56. The plates 54, 55 are preferably flexible pieces of plastic or cellulose material and are pivotally mounted, as by means of studs 51, 56, to flexible strip numbers 59, secured, as by stitching, to the hem portions 24, 25 of the adjuster 26. Other strips 6|, 62 serve to connect the two plates 54, 55 together and also form a support for the cover 56 which may be a piece of oil skin, shown partly broken away in Fig. 11. Purely by way of example the connecting members BI, 62 are shown secured to the front plate 54 by means of eyelets 63 and to the rear plate 55 through a stitched-on piece of fabric 64.

A connecting strap 65, for example of fabric, may be used to maintain the shape of the front plate v54 of the shaper. The cover 56 serves as a protection against the penetration of rain water, as a wall designed to engage the head of the wearer and to seat the hat more firmly when, as in windy weather, it is slightly pulled down over the head, and also, in combination with the shaper plates 54, 55, as a means for defining the position and depth of the creases 66. The insert 49 may, however, also be used as a combined adjuster without the cover or skin 56, the plates 54 and .55 still serving to maintain the shape of the crown 5|. Note that, for this purpose, the front plate 54 is laterally recessed as at 61 where by the extent and location of the side creases 68 (see Fig. 14) may be defined.

Fig. 13 shows a hat 50 with its sweatband 53 turned down to expose the size adjuster 20, the latter in this case being arranged in inverted position, i. e. with the buckle 36 facing inward. This permits adjustment of the device 20 to size after the same has been placed in position adjacent the crown of the hat and, if desired, fastened thereto as by stitching (not shown).

Fig. 14 shows the exterior of a hat 50 having the usual hat band 69 behind which, in this case, there are provided a pair of slots l0, 1| through which the ends of the sizer 23, carrying the clasp or fastener 36, project. This arrangement permits adjustment of the device 20 while the hat is on the wearers head, it being understood that, after the adjustment has been completed, the hat band 69 carrying the usual bow (not shown) will be placed over the slots 16, II and the clasp 36 to conceal them from view.

Figs. 15, 1 6 and 17 show a cap 12 having a crown 13, a visor l4 and a sweatband 15. The visor 14 is provided with an extension 16 of substantially semicircular form, which may be a strip of leather or the like, to which are secured.

as by stitching H, the straps 23a, 23b representing the sizer. The ends of these straps are held together by a clasp or buckle 36 substantially as described in connection with Figs. 1-5.

The cap 12 is further provided with two lateral openings l8, 79 serving for the passage of ends 46a, 46b of the flattener 46. These ends are provided with short loops 41, 48 as described in connection with Figs. 8-10. The openings 18, 19 may also conveniently serve as repositories for a pencil or the like, as indicated at 80. Snap fasteners til, 82 are provided for securing the visor I4 to the crown 13, thereby substantially concealing the fiattener 45 from view. Sizer 23a, 23b and flattener 46 may be sheathed in the manner previously described; in the absence of such sheathing, however, operation of the flattener will serve to eliminate any wrinkles that may appear in the crown itself.

Fig. 18 shows a modified insert 49 which corresponds in all essential respects to that of Figs. 11 and 12, except that the connecting members BI, 62 are replaced by relatively thin flexible strips GI, 62' whose ends are slidably held by strips of fabric 63', 64 corresponding to the strip 64 in Fig. 11. The oilskin 56 has been omitted in the modification of Fig. 18.

Figs. 19 and 20 show a further modification of insert 49 wherein the adjuster 20 is replaced by a pair of relatively wide strips l 6!, I 62 which are held onto the plates 54, 55 by means of tubular holders formed by strips of fabric !63, I64 in similar manner as the strips BI, 62' in Fig. 18. The upper connector strips are, however, replaced by a wire l6| held inside the turned-over portion 56' of the cover 56, the ends of the wire being held together by a sleeve I62 secured to the front plate 54. In this manner it will be possible to vary the circumference and shape of the insert 49 as required in any particular case.

Although the invention has been described with reference to certain specific embodiments, it is to be understood that many modifications, adaptations, and combinations of the various features herein disclosed are contemplated without departing from the spirit or exceeding the scope of the invention as defined in the objects and in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An adjusting device for head covering, comprising tubular sheathing means, a strap of substantially non-stretchable material extending longitudinally within said sheathing means, the ends of said strap projecting from said sheathing means, clasping means, said ends bein adjustably secured together by said clasping means for varying the effective circumferential length of said strap, a stiffening member extending longitudinally within said sheathing means substantially parallel to said strap, and adjustable means to secure the ends of said member together in variable spaced apart positions so that said stiffening member maintains said sheathing means and said strap in substantially circular configurations.

2. An adjusting device for head coverings comprising flexible tubular sheathing means, a strap of substantially non-stretchable material extendin lengthwise within said sheathin means, the opposite ends of said strap projecting from said sheathing means, clasping means secured to one of said ends of the strap, the other of said strap ends being adjustably engageable by said clasping means for varying the effective circumferential length of the strap with its ends thus clasped together, at least one open wire extending longitudinally within said sheathing means parallel to said strap, and a sleeve member engageable with the opposite ends of said wire, said sleeve being adapted to maintain said wire ends in variably spaced apart position for maintaining said sheathing means and said strap in substantially circular form.

3. An adjusting device for head coverings as set forth in claim 2; wherein said other strap end bears markings for indicating the eifective circumferential length of said strap.

4. An adjusting device for head coverings as set forth in claim 2; wherein said wire ends and said sleeve are provided with cooperating formations positioned for varying the spacing of said wire ends in step by step increments.

FRANK SCHLESINGER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 341,616 Upham May 11, 1886 761,601 Oliver May 31, 1904 781,059 Fuller Jan. 31, 1905 1,164,541 Martin Dec. 14, 1915 1,391,123 Koyomjian Sept. 20, 1921 1,475,615 Winkelmann Nov. 27, 1923 1,513,682 Weinstein et al Oct. 28, 1924 1,527,574 Reichel Feb. 24, 1925 1,558,142 Brenner Oct. 20, 1925 1,560,952 Tran Nov. 10, 1925 1,674,361 Gstalder June 19, 1928 1,715,201 Levin May 28, 1929 1,725,425 Steingold Aug. 20, 1929 1,837,695 Werner Dec. 22, 1931 1,992,285 Blum Feb. 26, 1935 

